Bruises & Embraces

Harry woke up suddenly, startled by a nightmare. Unfortunately for him, Harry had an uncanny ability to remember his dreams and nightmares, and all the mental exercises he had underwent to become an Auror had only enhanced that skill. Tonight he dreamed that Umbridge had successfully implemented a new Educational Degree forbidding any inter-houses romantic relationships. He had been so mad it took him a while to realize that not only had Umbridge left Hogwarts ten years ago, that he himself was an adult out of Hogwarts for nearly as much time.

"That old toad still plagues me…"

Brushing his hand through the place next to him in bed he found it empty. That startled Harry for a second time in a short time span. Looking around he saw no traces of the person he had spent the night with.

That shouldn't surprise me, he never stays…

Shrugging off he got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Harry was about to grab his toothbrush when he noticed a rose petal carelessly dropped near the sink. He reached for the petal, it was still fresh and soft to the touch with a deep dark red shade. He got out of the bathroom and went to the kitchen fast paced. The calendar on the wall confirmed his fears.

"Oh, fuck."

It was February fourteenth, Valentine's. Dread was quickly replaced by panic, he hadn't gotten anything to give. Getting any decent Valentine's gift today would be hell and nearly impossible, everything would be sold out, not mention of the lameness of having forgotten to buy something. Cursing himself a million times under his breath he was midway of throwing a sweater over his shoulders when a low tap noise on the window caught his attention.

"Just kill me now, will you."

Three owls were perched outside with big, bright envelops under their beaks. Opening the window, Harry let them in. They flew a little bit around his head before dropping the three envelops on the bed and then flew right away again out of the window. Looking at them getting away gave Harry a pang feeling in his stomach. He still missed Hedwig, so much he hadn't had the courage to get another Owl ever since. Harry grabbed the first envelop. It had Hermione's neat and precise handwriting in black against a regular parchment colored background.

  "Dear Harry,

I hope you are doing well. I miss you, we haven't seen each other much lately. I know you must be busy with your Auror work. I can't say I have very much free time either, all this Ministry work is very demanding. Anyway, I just wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine's.

Love,

Hermione.

P.S. – Do you think this is the year Ron finally gets me something nice?"

That put a smile on Harry's lips. It was true tough, he hadn't seen Hermione and Ron much lately, though it was more about the tension it always occurred when they met than work itself. They still didn't approve of his dating choice. Could you say dating when it had been nearly ten years since they started going out? However, they had never passed the dating phase, each one had their apartments and neither spend too much time at each other's place. Trying not to think too much about that, Harry grabbed the second envelop. The contrast of Ron's handwriting with Hermione's was shocking. Ron's was all scrawny and irregular.

  "Harry,

I'm worried. I got Hermione a bouquet flowers enchanted with an everlasting spell so she can keep them forever in her office. However, I might have done something wrong, they don't smell right... I don't' have time to get anything else now. Do you think she'll be mad?

Miss you, mate.

Ron"

Harry let out a long laughter. That was so typical of Ron's which made him miss him even more and guilty, he hadn't written anything to them either. He needed to do something about that situation soon. But not today. Today he had to find a gift and save his relationship. Grabbing the third envelop his heart skipped a beat. He knew that handwriting all too well. Not too messy but not neat either, a nice mix of poise and scruffiness, much like the owner. The letters were embossed in a silverfish gold color in a dark green parchment.

  "Good morning Scarface,

I know you didn't get me anything for Valentine's, therefore I know you won't mind me getting something for myself in Diagon Alley and put it in your bill. Of course I'll still have to punish you later on tonight hard. I hope you like my gift to you, it's inside the envelop. Now the lads can stop eyeing you with malicious intents and start looking at you with jealousy, for now they will now you are mine.

Love,

Draco"

In the hurry to find out what was inside the envelop, Harry almost let it drop, but his seeker instincts allowed him to grab it way before it hit the floor. When he opened his hand he was holding an exquisite silver ring. It had a snake and a lion joined together in a loving embrace, yet the snake was strangling one of the lion's paws with its tail and the lion had another paw scratching he snake's skin. It symbolized perfectly their relationship. It was with a light heart that Harry left the house to go buy a gift.

All would be well.